Adam Tebrugge is a graduate of New College of Florida in 1982, and the Florida State University College of Law, with high honors, in 1984. He spent 23 years at the Public Defender's Office. In 1999 he became board certified as a criminal trial attorney.

     In 2007 he was presented with the Freedom Award for Public Service from the Sarasota branch of the NAACP. In 2008 he received the Jim Slater award for professionalism in the practice of criminal law, presented by the judges of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit. On January 1, 2009, he received the Duisberg award for peace and justice. In 2010 he was awared the C.L. McKaig Award by the Sarasota County Bar Association for extraordinary service to the community, and the Humanitarian Civil Rights Award presented by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Sarasota and Manatee Counties.

     Additionally, Adam served as president of the Sarasota County Civic League, on the board of directors of the Sarasota County Bar Association and as Chair of the Suncoast Partnership to End Homelessness. He is the host and co-producer of the television show "Law and Sarasota" which has been on the air since 2005. Adam also serves as an adjunct professor at Stetson College of Law where he teaches "Death Penalty Seminar."